Show on map This tunnel which is now a footpath to the NYMR engine sheds was originally built around 1834 by George Stephenson as part of the Whitby to Pickering Railway. Grosmont at the time was just known as “Tunnel”
 
The original carriages were horse drawn, but the the line was developed by George Hudsons’ York and North Midland Railway between 1845 and 1849, the large double track tunnel built just over a decade later shows the pace of development at that time.
Show on map In what it now a car park are the remains of Grosmont Ironworks built in 1862 and demolished in 1892. Despite now being a rural setting the immediate area contains numerous ironstone mines.
The most promenant feature is a large brick structure which is believed to be part of the system which carried raw materials to the top of the three blast furnaces. Apologies for the dark photos but it was getting late and I only had a basic camera.
 
 
Closer to the railway station is the base of the third blast furnace, added in 1876
Show on map Scale Cross was a small whinstone concern operated by the Commondale Whinstone Co in the early 20th century, the quarries from this period although now overgrown can still be located on the moor. This quarry may also have been known as Howl Sike but I’ve not seen any documentary evidence of that.
A tramway ran down the hill past Scale Cross farm towards the railway at the bottom of the valley.
Show on map The Wesleyen Chapel built in 1839 is next to the footpath which crosses the Esk via the stepping stones
If you look over the wall there next to the side door, there are a series of levels carved into the wall showing the heights of large floods.
The 1930 flood washed away bridges at Egton and Glasdale.
On the day I visited the Esk was swollen with melting snow and the stepping stones were covered, but the chapel is still 50m from the water which shows the extent of those floods.
Show on map Donkey Pond is a flooded whinstone quarry in woodland near Gribdale Gate.
Very little is know of the history of this site, such as whether it was linked with the underground workings of the Gribdale Mining Company about 1km west.
As the whinstone ridge head in that direction a large cutting is visible where the whinstone has been removed, and numerous tramways can be traced through the woods.
 
Show on map I first came across this site nearly 20 months ago and hadn’t realised what it was at the time, now looking back with a little more experience it became apparent it was on the whinstone dyke crossing the area.
A small quarry cutting can be seen with rocks outcropping from the sides.
 
A small bridge over a stream is visible which connected the site to the adjacent railway line
Show on map 
Some people say this is a First World War jetty, it may well have been reused / rebuilt then but the 1894 OS maps already shows a tramway running from the powder wharf in the direction of the gare, joining up with the tramway on which sail bogies were also known to run. This would tie in nicely with 1880’s submarine mine loading complex on the gare which presumably needed a supply of explosives.
   
The small inlet immediately to the south east is known as Powder Hole.
Show on map Despite being two of the founding fathers of Middlesbrough, the graves had fallen into disrepair until they were recently refurbished
Bolckow died in Ramsgate on 18th June 1878, 10,000 people attended his funeral, said to be one fifth of the population of Middlesbrough.
Vaughan died in London on 16th September 1868
A plaque to Vaughan who died on 16 September 1868 was found under a bush 20 years ago, this is also going to be put back on display
Update 28/11/11
A diagram of the plaque is now attached to the grave plot.
Show on map The weather is preventing me getting much new, so time to dig into the archives for some photos from the summer.
‘World Fruit’ is a series of exotic cast iron fruits and vegetables by Andrew McKeown
 
Â
They can be found in the grass at the edge of Ayresome Gardens towards Linthorpe Road.
Show on map Loftus Ironstone mine operated from 1865 until 1958 (although some earlier working was done by several companies back to 1847 in the immedite area)
The name of the town and mine are said to have been altered to avoid confusion with Lofthouse near Wakefield when the railways arrived.
The pit for the Waddle ventilation fan is still very prominant on the site
 
The Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum (formerly the Tom Leonard Mining Museum) which occupies the site is currently closed for the winter, so I shall have to return for internal shots next year, however a few items can be seen outside even when its closed.
 
1882 datestone from the engine house of Lumpsey Mine
1914 datestones from the fan house at South Skelton Mine
 
The mine stables are currently being converted, a drift ran underground from the stables directly into the mine
